Vaginal treatment assembly

ABSTRACT

A vaginal treatment assembly including an outer cushion body dimensioned for reception within the human vaginal cavity, and containing an essentially tubular liner which projects into a passage in the cushion body and is withdrawable therefrom, together with an elongated member which projects into one end of the liner and extends through the interior of the liner and then through an opening at its opposite end, to engage an end wall of the cushion body in a relation retaining the latter against unwanted removal from the vaginal cavity while the liner is being withdrawn.

United States Patent 11 1 Fielding 1 May 8, 1973 54 VAGINAL TREATMENT ASSEMBLY 3,486,503 12/1969 Porter et a1 ..l28/239 Inventor: so B. Fielding 11930 KearSarge 3,512,526 5/1970 Fielding ..l28/239 St t,L sA l ,C H. 90049 fee 0 nge es 3 1 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Flledi g- 1971 Attorney-William P. Green [21] A 1. No.: 170218 pp 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. (:1. ..l28/239, 128/227, 128/247, A vaginal treatment assembly including an Outer 128/251, l28/269 cushion body dimensioned for reception within the 5 Int "HA6", 9 00, A61", 3 00 1 7 02 human vaginal cavity, and containing an essentially tu- [58] Field of Search ..128/227, 239,247, lar lin r which projects into a passage in the 128/251, 269 cushion body and is withdrawable therefrom, together with an elongated member which projects into one [56] References Cited end of the liner and extends through the interior of the liner and then through an opening at its opposite end, UNITED STATES PATENTS to engage an end wall of the cushion body in a relation 1,959,411 5/1934 Dolmatch ..128/244 retaining the latter against unwanted removal from the 2,610,627 9/1952 Watt et al.... ..128/239 vaginal cavity while the liner is being withdrawn. 2,631,333 3/1953 Brown ...128/239 X 3,062,21 1 1 1/1962 Walden et al ..128/25l X 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures lllylillllll VAGINAL TREATMENT ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Certain features of the assembly disclosed in the present application have been shown and claimed in my US. Pat. No. 3,512,526 issued May 5, 1970 and in my copending application Ser. No. 35,682 filed May 8, 1970 on Sheath Assembly for Douche Nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved devices for treating the vaginal tract, as for instance for applying medication to or cleaning the vaginal tissues.

In my above identified patent and application, I have disclosed a unique type of vaginal treating device which includes a cushion body or sheath adapted to be received about a douche nozzle in a relation preventing direct contact of that nozzle with the vaginal tissues. The cushion body is liquid permeable and adapted to pass fluids outwardly therethrough from the nozzle for treating the vaginal tissues, and is soft enough to be rubbed against the tissues without damaging them. The assembly also includes an essentially tubular liner which extends into the interior of the cushion body, and is received about the douche nozzle, and is apertured to pass the fluids outwardly from the nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a treating assembly having an outer cushion body and tubular liner of the above discussed general type, and which is especially constructed to facilitate withdrawal of the liner from within the cushion body or outer sheath while the latter is contained within the vaginal tract, so that the cushion body may be left within the tract for medication or other purposes separately from the liner. For this purpose, I provide in conjunction with the cushion body and liner an elongated element which extends into the liner and through its interior to an inner end of the assembly, and which at that inner end passes through an opening in the end of the liner to a position of engagement with an end wall of the cushion body, so that the elongated member can be utilized to exert force against and hold the cushion body within the tract during withdrawal of the liner. Preferably, the liner even when inserted into the cushion body as far as possible has an outer end portion projecting beyond the corresponding extremity of the cushion body to allow grasping of that end portion as a handle for manipulating the assembly. The elongated removal element is desirably long enough to project substantially beyond even this end portion of the liner, so that the ends of the removal element and the liner can be grasped by different hands and moved in opposite directions during withdrawal of the liner. For best results, the portion of the elongated member which is small enough to move into the liner should be of a length at least as great as or preferably greater than the combined length of the liner and the passage within which it is contained in the cushion body.

Certain particular features of the invention relate to various ways in which the elongated removal element can be constructed in a manner enabling its reduction in length when not in use. More particularly, this element may be formed of two or more sections which are connectible together in an essentially end to end elongated relation, but are relatively movable, telescopically or otherwise, to an overall reduced length condition when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is primarily an axial section through a first form of vaginal treatment assembly constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced scale showing of the manner in which the liner of the FIG. 1 assembly is withdrawn from the outer cushion or sheath body;

FIG. 3 shows the liner and cushion body with a douche nozzle received therein;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show three variational types of liner removal elements; and

FIG. 7 shows the element of FIG. 6 in its reduced length condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference first to FIG. 1, I have illustrated at 10 an assembly embodying the invention, and including an outer cushion or sheath body 11, a liner 12, and an elongated liner removal element 13. The cushion body 11 is formed of a material which is very soft and pliable, at least when wet, to avoid damage to the vaginal tissues when contacted by this body. The cushion body has an essentially tubular side wall portion 14, centered about a main axis 15 of the device, and which is open at its lower end for reception of liner 12, removal element 13, and a douche nozzle 16 (see FIG. 3). At its upper end, the cushion or sheath body 11 is closed by an upper or axially inner end wall 17. Internally, the tubular side wall 14 of body 1 1 may have a normally straight cylindrical internal surface 18, extending upwardly from bottom end 19 to a location 20 at which the inner surface may curve inwardly and hemispherically at 21 across the inner end of liner 12. Externally, the body 11 preferably has an outer surface 22 which tapers gradually and progressively and desirably frustoconically from lower end surface 19 to a location 23 at which the outer surface curves or is rounded inwardly and essentially hemispherically as shown to provide a narrowed and rounded leading end of the cushion body.

The material forming cushion or sheath body 11 is of a type containing a large number of passages or pores which communicate with one another through the entire radial thickness of the side wall of the body, between surfaces 18 and 22, and also through the entire thickness of end wall 17, in a manner enabling water or another fluid from nozzle 16 to pass freely and rapidly through the material to the outside of body 11. As an example, body 11 may be formed of an appropriate resiliently deformable open pored sponge material, such as polyurethane sponge (which is soft both when wet and dry), any other suitable synthetic sponge material, rubber sponge, regenerated cellulose sponge material (soft only when wet), or the like. Alternatively, body 11 may be formed of any other soft fluid permeable cushioning substance, such as for example cotton or other massed natural or synthetic fibers, an appropriate knitted or woven cushioning material formed of a suitable yarn or threads of cotton or other material, a mass or series of layers of paper or paper-like material, et cetera. The cushioning substance may also be ofa type adapted to expand to an increased thickness or external size when wet. One desirable expansible substance of this type is a highly compressed cotton-like mass of natural and/or synthetic fibers, typically including for example mixed cellulose, rayon and polyurethane fibers, with the fibers being adapted to be automatically released from their compressed condition when they become wet.

The tubular liner 12 within outer body 11 is formed of a material which is substantially stiffer, harder and more rigid than the very soft porous body 11, but which itself preferably has substantial resilient deformability, and is desirably more flexible than nozzle 16. For best results, liner 12 is formed of a resiliently deformable or flexible resinous plastic material which is substantially impermeable to water, other douche liquids, medicinal substances, et cetera. As an example, the liner may be formed of polyvinylchloride, or any other appropriate substance which can be safely received within the body cavity. The liner 12 has a tubular side wall 24, which projects axially outwardly or downwardly beyond the lower extremity of porous cushion body 11 to a location 25, to provide a handle portion of liner l2 beyond body 11 by which a user may hold and manipulate the device without grasping the sponge body. The tubular side wall 24 extends upwardly into the interior of body 1 l to the upper end of the passage formed by inner surface 18 of body 11. At its upper end, liner l2 curves gradually and annularly inwardly toward axis 15, in correspondence with the curvature of the inner surface of body 11 and to the location of a circular edge 27 defining an opening centered about axis 15 at the upper end of the liner. The liner thus has a wall extending partially across its upper end and defining an annular shoulder 27' against which nozzle 16 is engageable upwardly as will appear at a later point, but containing the mentioned opening 27. Near its upper end, the tubular side wall 24 of liner 12 contains a number of apertures 28, through which liquids from the nozzle 16 may flow laterally into the porous material of cushion body 11, for discharge therefrom, when the nozzle is in the FIG. 3 position of insertion within the liner.

The tubular side wall 24 of liner 12 may have an outer surface 29 which may be of straight cylindrical configuration along the entire axial distance from a location 30 to a location 31, except as the diameter is reduced at a location 32 just beneath apertures 28. At the region 32, the entire thickness of the side wall is deformed radially inwardly, and annularly about axis 15, to provide an annular inner shoulder 33 ofa diameter slightly less than the diameter of the internal surface 34 above and beneath that location. Both the upper and lower sides of this annular reduced diameter shoulder 33 may curve gradually radially inwardly to provide tapering upper and lower surfaces 35 and 36 on the shoulder. The internal and external straight cylindrical surfaces of tubular side wall 24 continue downwardly to the location of a bottom downwardly tapering shoulder or flange 37 formed by providing an inturned reduced diameter annular portion of the material of liner 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The two annular shoulders 33 and 37 may extend inwardly to approximately the same diameter, and are both resiliently deformable and resiliently expansible by virtue of the resilient characteristics of the material of which liner 12 is formed, to engage nozzle 16 in fluid sealing fashion when in the FIG. 3 position.

The diameter of external surface 29 of liner 12 may be very slightly greater than the normal internal diameter of outer porous body 11, to be a sufficiently tight frictional fit within body 11 to retain the two elements 11 and 12 in assembled positions as shown in FIG. 1 during handling. However, this light friction fit enables easy withdrawal of liner 12 from within body 11 when desired.

For assisting in withdrawing cushion body 11 from the vaginal tract, this body 11 may carry one of more pull tabs 38, extending downwardly beyond the lower end 19 of body 11 to a location at which they may be grasped by a user. In FIG. 1, two such tabs are formed at diametrically opposite locations as opposite ends of an elongated narrow flexible ribbon or tape 39, which extends upwardly along internal surface 18 of body 11 at one side of the body, then curves along the underside of the rounded top wall of body 11, and extends downwardly again adjacent a diametrically opposite portion of wall 18. This ribbon may be suitably secured permanently to body 11, as by an appropriate cement or adhesive, stitching, clipping, or by otherwise attaching it to any convenient portion of the body. The currently preferred attachment is by cementing at the upper end 40 of the ribbon. In lieu of a ribbon, an appropriate string or cord may be employed for forming the pull tabs, or if the body 10 is formed of a knitted or woven material the pull tabs may be formed merely as extended ends of the yarn, thread, string or cord of which the material is formed.

Element 13 has a lower handle portion 41, and extends upwardly from that handle portion into and through liner 12 to a position of engagement with the underside of top wall 17 of body 11. The upper end surface 42 of element 13 may be rounded hemispherically in correspondence with the curvature of the under or inner surface of top wall 17 of body 1 1, to exert upward force against body If over a substantial area. Between the location of its lower handle 41 and its upper end surface 42, element 13 may be of straight cylindrical external configuration, and of a diameter just slightly less than the internal diameters of shoulders 33 and 37, and the internal diameter of opening 27 at the top of the liner.

As seen in FIG. 2, the overall length I of element 13 should be greater than the total of length t of liner 12 and length s of the liner receiving passage within body 11, so that the handle portion 41 of element 13 can project downwardly beyond liner l2 and at the same time engage the upper end of body 11 during the entire downward removal of liner 12 from body 11. It may also be noted that the length l of the portion of element 13 which can be received within liner 12 and body 11 should be at least as great as the total of the dimensions s and 1, again to assure effective removal of the liner from body 11.

The douche nozzle 16 may be of completely conventional construction, and when in use may be connected to the usual flexible hose 43 which receives water or douche fluid from an elevated gravity bag 44 or other fluid source capable of producing a flow of liquid from that source through hose 43 and into nozzle 16. Alternatively the nozzle may be of the type carried by a hand-held syringe bulb. The nozzle is essentially rigid or stiff, and may typically be formed of an appropriate resinous plastic material of suitable rigidity. The nozzle is illustrated in FIG. 3 as it appears when inserted within liner 12 and sheath body 11, and in that position is centered about the previously mentioned axis and elongated in the direction of that axis. The nozzle contains a passage 45 whose lower end receives fluid from hose 43, and whose upper end communicates with a number of apertures 46 in the side wall 47 of the nozzle for passing fluid outwardly to the exterior of the nozzle. Externally, the nozzle has an outer surface 48 which along most of its length is essentially cylindrical, and which beneath the location 39 flares gradually and essentially conically to a location 51 beyond which the nozzle may have an externally hexagonal portion 52 for engagement with a tool if necessary in screwing the nozzle into a hose fitting 53. At its upper end, upwardly beyond the location 50, the outer surface of the nozzle may flare gradually and essentially conically at 54, to form an enlarged head 55 containing the side wall apertures 46. At the upper extremity of enlarged head 55, the nozzle may have a closed generally transverse end wall 56. If desired, the nozzle may have a slight longitudinal curvature, in a manner well known in the art, instead of extending straight along the axis 15 in the manner illustrated, and the external configuration of the nozzle may of course vary in different respects in accordance with known prior teachings.

The shoulder 33 of liner 12 is dimensioned to annularly engage the outer surface 54 of the nozzle in its installed FIG. 3 position, beneath apertures 46, to form an annular seal at that location preventing flow of water downwardly beyond that point within the liner. Shoulder 37 at the bottom of the liner similarly engages the tapered outer surface 51 of the nozzle annularly near its lower or axially outer end, to form another annular seal against fluid leakage or loss downwardly between the nozzle and liner, and past the two shoulders.

To now describe the manner of use of the device, assume first of all that the assembly is to be employed in the manner illustrated in H0. 1, say for example to apply medication to the inner wall surfaces of the vaginal tract. The medication may be appropriately applied to cushion body 11, as by dipping that body into the desired medicating liquid and causing it to be ab sorbed into the pores of body 11. A user may then grasp the lower handle portion of liner 12, and insert and manipulate the liner and body into the vaginal tract while holding the liner at its lower end. The soft cushion body can be rubbed against the tissues without danger of harm to apply the medication in a very thorough manner. If it is desired to leave the medicating element within the tract, the user merely inserts element l3 upwardly through liner 12 and to the FIG. 1 position of engagement with the underside of the top wall of body 11, and holds element 13 in that position while pulling downwardly on the lower handle end of liner 12. The medicated cushion body 11 may thus be left precisely in any predetermined position in the vaginal tract, and the entire liner can be completely withdrawn from the body 11 while still exerting upward holding force on body 11 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. When it is finally desired to remove the body 11 itself, this may be done by pulling downwardly on tabs 38 which are secured to the body.

When it is desired to utilize the device for douche purposes, the douche nozzle 16 is inserted into liner 12 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and is yieldingly held in that position by confinement of the upper enlarged head 55 of the nozzle between the upper end of the liner and shoulder 33. Water or another douche fluid may then be forced through the nozzle and from its upper apertures, to discharge through apertures 28 ofthe liner into porous body 11, and to flow outwardly through the pores of that body to the vaginal tissues. If, after the douche procedure is completed, it is desired to leave sheath body 11 within the vaginal tract, the user may first hold liner 12 and body 11 in the tract while pulling nozzle 16 downwardly out of the liner, and then may insert element 13 into the liner for use in the manner discussed in connection with FIG. 1 in removing the liner while leaving body 11 in position. If it is preferred to remove outer body 11 along with liner 12, this may be accomplished by merely grasping the lower end of liner 12 with the two pull tabs held between the fingers and the users liner, so that the tabs cause body 11 to move downwardly with the liner.

FIG. 4 shows at 13a a variational form of removal element which may be utilized in lieu of the element 13 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, the element 13a is formed of two rigid sections 113 and 213, which are connected together in an essentially end to end relation to form an assembly having a total length corresponding to the length of element 13 in FIG. 1, and having a small enough transverse dimension to be insertible upwardly into the liner and utilized in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The sections 113 and 213 may be pivotally hinged together at 313, so that section 213 may swing relative to section 113 to the broken line position 213 of FIG. 4, in which the two sections are received in adjacent side by side parallel relation and the overall length of the assembly is thus reduced. In the extended full line position of FIG. 4, the section 213 may be engaged by a pair of detent lugs or shoulders 413 at its opposite sides, acting to yieldingly hold the two sections in their extended position of use. As in the first form of the invention, a handle 41a may be provided at one end of the unit, and a rounded surface 40a curving in correspondence with the inner surface of the end wall of body 1 1 may be provided at the opposite end for exerting the holding force against body 11. The capacity of the holding element 13a of FIG. 4 for such reduction in length facilitates its handling when not in use and during shipping.

FIG. 5 shows another removal or holding element 13b which may be utilized in lieu of the element 13 in FIG. 1, and which is formed of two sections ll3b and 213b. The latter section contains an elongated passage 31% which telescopically receives section 11317. Section 1 13b has detent shoulders 4131: projecting laterally therefrom and which are receivable in engagement with detenting notches $131) at one end of body 2ll3b and 6l3b at the opposite end of element 213b. When the sections are in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, engagement of detent lugs or shoulders 413b with the left end shoulders 5l3b on section 213 yieldingly retains the two sections in their relatively extended maximum overall length positions, in which the overall length of the assembly 13b is great enough to enable it to function in the manner of element 13 in FIG. 2. When not in use, section 113b is forced rightwardly within and relative to section 213b to a position in which shoulders 413b engage the second set of notches or shoulders 61312 at the right end of section 213b, to yieldingly retain the sections in a minimum overall length telescopically collapsed condition. The section 1113b (or the corresponding part of any of the other forms of pusher) may typically have a ball tip 1225b for pushing against the end of the cushion body without damage thereto, but with the tip having a transverse dimension small enough to pass entirely through liner 12 andits end opening 27.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show still another two section device 130 capable of being utilized in place of the element 13 of FIG. 1, and in this instance including a section 1130 which is telescopically receivable within a tubular section 213c and has threads 3130 engageable with either of two sets of threads 413c or 513c formed internally within opposite ends of element 2130. When threads 313a and 413a are in engagement as illustrated in FIG. 6, the two sections are in their extended full length positions in which they can be utilized in a manner illustrated in connection with element 13 in FIG. 2. To shorten the overall length of the assembly 130, part 1130 is merely turned relative to section 2130 far enough to move the threads 313c and 4130 out of engagement, to thus enable axial sliding movement of section 113a farther into section 213a in telescoping relation until threads 3130 can engage and are screwed into the second set of threads 5130 at the right end of section 213e, to retain the assembly 130 in the reduced length condition of FIG. 7 for ease in handling and shipping.

While certain specific embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to these particular forms, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vaginal treatment assembly comprising an elongated cushion body formed of deformable material dimensioned to be inserted into the vaginal tract and having a passage extending thereinto from its outer end and an end wall at the inner end of said passage, an essentially tubular liner formed of a material stiffer than said cushion body and projecting into and lining said passage for insertion into the vaginal tract therewith, said liner being free for withdrawal from said passage to enable removal of the liner from the vaginal tract separately from said cushion body, said liner having an outer end portion which is accessible to a user and having an opening at the inner end of the liner opposite said end wall of the cushion body, and an elongated member having a portion sized to project into said outer end of the liner and through the interior thereof to its inner end and then through said opening into engagement with said end wall of the cushion body and adapted to be held against said end wall by a user as said liner is withdrawn along said member and from said cushion body to retain the latter in the vaginal tract.

2. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said outer end portion of the liner projects outwardly beyond said cushion body to form a handle portion by which the liner and cushion body are inserted and by which the liner is withdrawn.

3. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is of a length substantially greater than the length of said liner.

4. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member has a length greater than the combined length of said liner and said passage in the cushion body.

5. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is formed of two sections connected together in generally end to end relation giving the member a length greater than that of either of its sections, said sections being relatively movable to a reduced overall length condition.

6. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is formed of two sections connected together in generally end to end relation giving the member a length greater than that of either of its sections, and a connection between said two sections interconnecting adjacent ends thereof for relative folding movement to positions adjacent one another in which the member has a reduced overall length.

7. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim I, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and a connection between said sections for releasably retaining them in said extended length condition.

8. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and connector means for releasably retaining said sections selectively in either said extended length condition or said reduced length condition.

9. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and interfitting threads on said sections for releasably securing the sections in their extended length condition.

10. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, external threads formed on one of said sections at a location within the other section, and two sets of threads formed internally within said other section and selectively engageable with said first mentioned threads in a relation releasably retaining said sections selectively in either said extended length condition or said reduced length condition.

11. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, a snap detent head formed on one of said sections at a location within the other section, and two snap detent shoulders formed in said other section near opposite ends thereof and releasably engageable in detenting relation with said head on said one section in a relation selectively retaining said sections in either said extended length condition or said reduced length condition.

12. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said cushion body is formed of a liquid permeable material through which fluids may pass from the interior of said liner to the outside of the cushion body.

13. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said cushion body is formed of a liquid permeable sponge material through which fluids may pass from the interior of said liner to the outside of the cushion body.

14. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner has apertures in its side wall.

15. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, including a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer end of said cushion body and accessible for pulling the cushion body from the vaginal tract.

16. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being porous and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body.

17. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being liquid permeable and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body, said liner having shoulder means engageable with a douche nozzle to releasably retain it in fixed position on the nozzle.

18. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being liquid permeable and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body, said liner being formed of a deformable resinous plastic material having a side wall which is apertured to pass said fluid, said side wall having a reduced dimension shoulder portion engageable with an enlarged end of the nozzle to retain the nozzle 'releasably within the liner.

19. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 18, in which said outer end portion of the liner projects beyond the outer end of said cushion body to provide a handle and has a reduced diameter resilient shoulder at its outer end engageable with the nozzle.

20. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 19, including a pull string connected to said cushion body and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent said outer end portion of the liner. 

1. A vaginal treatment aSsembly comprising an elongated cushion body formed of deformable material dimensioned to be inserted into the vaginal tract and having a passage extending thereinto from its outer end and an end wall at the inner end of said passage, an essentially tubular liner formed of a material stiffer than said cushion body and projecting into and lining said passage for insertion into the vaginal tract therewith, said liner being free for withdrawal from said passage to enable removal of the liner from the vaginal tract separately from said cushion body, said liner having an outer end portion which is accessible to a user and having an opening at the inner end of the liner opposite said end wall of the cushion body, and an elongated member having a portion sized to project into said outer end of the liner and through the interior thereof to its inner end and then through said opening into engagement with said end wall of the cushion body and adapted to be held against said end wall by a user as said liner is withdrawn along said member and from said cushion body to retain the latter in the vaginal tract.
 2. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said outer end portion of the liner projects outwardly beyond said cushion body to form a handle portion by which the liner and cushion body are inserted and by which the liner is withdrawn.
 3. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is of a length substantially greater than the length of said liner.
 4. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member has a length greater than the combined length of said liner and said passage in the cushion body.
 5. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is formed of two sections connected together in generally end to end relation giving the member a length greater than that of either of its sections, said sections being relatively movable to a reduced overall length condition.
 6. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member is formed of two sections connected together in generally end to end relation giving the member a length greater than that of either of its sections, and a connection between said two sections interconnecting adjacent ends thereof for relative folding movement to positions adjacent one another in which the member has a reduced overall length.
 7. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and a connection between said sections for releasably retaining them in said extended length condition.
 8. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and connector means for releasably retaining said sections selectively in either said extended length condition or said reduced length condition.
 9. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, and interfitting threads on said sections for releasably securing the sections in their extended length condition.
 10. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, external threads formed on one of said sections at a location within the other section, and two sets of threads formed internally within said other section and selectively engageable with said first mentioned threads in a relation releasably retaining said sections selectively in either said extended length condition or saId reduced length condition.
 11. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said elongated member includes two essentially telescopically interfitting sections relatively movable between extended length and reduced length conditions, a snap detent head formed on one of said sections at a location within the other section, and two snap detent shoulders formed in said other section near opposite ends thereof and releasably engageable in detenting relation with said head on said one section in a relation selectively retaining said sections in either said extended length condition or said reduced length condition.
 12. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said cushion body is formed of a liquid permeable material through which fluids may pass from the interior of said liner to the outside of the cushion body.
 13. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said cushion body is formed of a liquid permeable sponge material through which fluids may pass from the interior of said liner to the outside of the cushion body.
 14. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner has apertures in its side wall.
 15. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, including a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer end of said cushion body and accessible for pulling the cushion body from the vaginal tract.
 16. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being porous and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body.
 17. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being liquid permeable and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body, said liner having shoulder means engageable with a douche nozzle to releasably retain it in fixed position on the nozzle.
 18. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said liner is adapted to removably receive a douche nozzle and is constructed to pass fluid from the nozzle through the liner to said cushion body, said cushion body being liquid permeable and adapted to pass said fluid outwardly therethrough to the exterior of the cushion body, said liner being formed of a deformable resinous plastic material having a side wall which is apertured to pass said fluid, said side wall having a reduced dimension shoulder portion engageable with an enlarged end of the nozzle to retain the nozzle releasably within the liner.
 19. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 18, in which said outer end portion of the liner projects beyond the outer end of said cushion body to provide a handle and has a reduced diameter resilient shoulder at its outer end engageable with the nozzle.
 20. A vaginal treatment assembly as recited in claim 19, including a pull string connected to said cushion body and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent said outer end portion of the liner. 